“Lucifer, Salvatore, where are you two going? Beth prepared some sandwiches for lunch. Come on and join us in the kitchen,” Mrs. Higgins told them and walked back into the kitchen without even waiting for a response.
“Are you kidding me? What did you get me into?” Salvatore moaned and groaned as he stood
there with his arms crossed.
“Come on. It’s just for today. We’ll let her know we like to go out for lunch.”
He gave his brother a nudge and headed into the kitchen with Salvatore slowly tagging along behind him.
* * * *
Lucia felt a little uncomfortable as she sat across from Lucifer and Salvatore. Beth and Mary sat around the table, too, as they made sandwiches. The spread of food was something Lucia would compare to a small luncheon. She didn’t want to make a pig of herself, but if she ate enough now, then she could skip dinner and save the sandwich she made for tomorrow.
“This is a lot of food, Mrs. Higgins. You didn’t have to do this, but thank you. Tomorrow we’ll go out for lunch. We like to do that when working a job,” Lucifer told her then smiled. Lucia noticed the huge sandwiches the two men made and the piles of potato salad they placed on their plates.
“Eat up. You’re both such big men and you work hard, you need the energy and good nutrition,” Mrs. Higgins stated with a wink before she bit into her small sandwich.
Lucia was halfway done with her food when she realized how quiet it was. She wiped the corners of her mouth, took a sip of sweet tea, and then gulped. Lucifer and Salvatore were watching her.
“What?” she asked.
“For a tiny little thing, you sure got a good appetite,” Salvatore told her, and she felt her cheeks warm. She immediately shot him a look.
“I walk a lot, burn the calories, ya know,” she replied, giving him the once-over. He placed his sandwich down on the plate.
“Speaking of walking a lot, you shouldn’t walk through the woods alone. It’s dangerous.”
“Excuse me?” she asked.
“I was there the other day with my dog, and you didn’t even see me or hear me. Someone could sneak up on you.”
She swallowed hard.
“Oh my, Salvatore is right. The town is very safe, but the sheriff and his deputies can’t patrol the outskirts and the woods.” Mrs. Higgins added her thoughts.
Lucia didn’t want to tell them that it was the only route she knew. She didn’t want to appear fearful, nor did she want to come across as naive. They could try something. Anyone could.
“I’ll take precautions. Thank you for the concern,” Lucia told them and then went back to eating.
“Is the fall festival committee going to meet Saturday afternoon still?” Mrs. Higgins asked.
“I believe so. That’s what Wyatt said. Lucia is supposed to go and help out,” Lucifer added. Lucia looked up at Mrs. Higgins and then at Lucifer.
“You’re part of the committee, Lucia?” Beth asked her.
“Well, the sheriff asked me to attend.”
“She had a great idea as to how to handle the traffic during the festival,” Lucifer told them and then explained her idea. They all began complimenting her and telling her she should definitely attend the event.
As they talked more about the festivities and mentioned the jack-o’-lantern display on the O’Brians’ land, she decided she really wanted to see that. She would head there tomorrow night. It wasn’t too far. A mile or two, less on the way back if she went through the woods.
She felt a funny sensation in her gut. Now that Lucifer and Salvatore had warned her about being more cautious and the dangers she should have been aware of, she felt annoyed. She could take care of herself. She didn’t need these men, strangers, telling her what she could and couldn’t do. Control was hers. She decided what, when, where, and how in everything she did. She would walk to the event and walk back. Everything would be fine.
* * * *
After lunch Mary accompanied Lucia, Lucifer, and Salvatore back up to the bedroom to discuss ideas. As they walked she noticed how Lucifer placed his hand at Lucia’s lower back, guiding her past some of the broken wood. The sight made her nearly leap with joy. There was a definite, natural attraction there, and if her womanly instincts were right, Salvatore felt it, too.
“My goodness. I don’t even know where to begin. I think the entire room should be gutted,” Mrs. Higgins said as she looked at the mess.